This story is from January 8, 2019

Supreme Court stays pumping of Bengaluru’s treated water to tanks in Kolar

Supreme Court stays pumping of Bengaluru’s treated water to tanks in Kolar
BENGALURU: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the order passed by Karnataka high court permitting authorities to pump treated water into tanks in Kolar district under the controversial Koramangala Challaghatta (KC) valley project. The Rs 1,300-crore project aims to fill tanks in Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts with treated sewage water from Bengaluru.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul passed the interim order after hearing a special leave petition filed by R Anjaneya Reddy, an activist from Kolar and Chikkaballapura region.
The apex court also ordered notices to the Karnataka government, Central Ground Water Board, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and others.
Anjaneya Reddy, who had filed a PIL before the Karnataka high court on the issue, challenged its September 28, 2018 order permitting resumption of pumping of treated water from the valley.
Scientists had raised concern
According to Reddy, on September 27, 2018, a report by the Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, had explicitly pointed out that the water — being pumped from Bellandur sewage treatment plant after treatment to waterbodies of Kolar (Lakshmisagara tank and Narasapura lake) — was contaminated with heavy metals and high nutrients, among other things.

It was contended that the high court did not take cognizance of the said report. Without considering the impact of the project on drinking water sources in the region, it accepted the water quality analysis report submitted unilaterally by the authorities and passed the order, the petitioner said. Reddy had said implementation of the multi-crore project must be stopped till an environment and social impact assessment report is prepared by an authorised agency.
On September 28, 2018, the high court had passed a modified interim order permitting resumption of pumping of treated water. This was after the state government informed the court that tested samples showed the treated water is within permissible limits as prescribed under environmental laws.
Earlier, pumping of water was stopped following overflow of untreated water due to heavy rain in July. On July 24, 2018, in the first interim order, the high court had restrained the authorities from restarting pumping of treated water.
Villagers fumed over frothing water
Treated water was first pumped into the tanks of Kolar district from the Bellandur STP on June 2 last year. On July 17, people in and around Lakshmisagara tank and Narasapura lake were shocked to see froth in the water supplied under the project and demanded immediate stoppage of supply.
Reddy said he approached the Supreme Court as he feared secondary treated water flowing into tanks in Kolar district would endanger the area’s ecology and also affect crops grown using this water.
Prince Isac, the advocate who appeared for the petitioner along with advocate Prashant Bhushan in the Supreme Court, told TOI the SC has directed to issue notices to the respondents, including the state of Karnataka, and further hearing would take place after considering Karnataka’s views.
(With inputs from Ranganath Krishnaswamy in Kolar)
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